Dr. Abiy Will Be Remembered in History as Neither Gôta Oromo nor Ye Amhara Jegina
It appears that Dr. Abiy Ahmed lost the opportunity to become either gôta Oromo (an Oromo hero) or ye Amhara jegina (an Amhara hero, which can also be understood as an Ethiopian hero). By attempting to operate simultaneously within both the Amharanet bloc and the Oromumma camp, he ended up being perceived as neither. Instead of being celebrated in both spheres, he is increasingly viewed as a divisive figure. This raises a question: Can he correct his course, align himself firmly with the Oromo cause, and salvage a positive legacy?
Rising Tensions Between Pro-Amharic and Pro-Oromic Camps
The conflict between the pro-Amharic-dominance bloc and the pro-Oromic-leadership camp is escalating. Notably, many of the prominent actors in both groups are Oromo elites—those inclined toward Amharic-centered state ideology and those advocating for Oromic leadership.
This internal linguistic and ideological tension dates back to 1270, during the reign of Yekuno Amlak. For centuries, the Amharic bloc prevailed with minimal challenge. However, the emergence of the OLF changed this trajectory, enabling the pro-Oromic movement to gain ground slowly and steadily.
Stages of Oromic Advancement:
– 1974 Revolution: approximately 25% liberation from Amharic dominance
– 1991 (post-Derg): around 50%
– 2018 political transition: roughly 75%
Yet this momentum was interrupted by what some describe as “hybrids”—people of Oromo descent who nevertheless promote Amharic supremacy in federal institutions. According to this view, Dr. Abiy Ahmed exemplifies this category. These leaders allegedly capitalized on the Qeerroo movement to perpetuate the dominance of Amharic, keeping Oromic in a secondary position.
In this framework, these hybrid leaders are distrusted by the Amharic bloc due to their Oromo background and unsupported by the Oromic camp due to their perceived Amharic allegiance—caught in an unsustainable political limbo.
Read more: https://orompia.wordpress.com/2020/01/0 ... tion-2020/